WASHINGTON — In recent years levels of persecution and restriction based on faith or belief have increased around the world. This is despite a growing movement of people who are committed to protecting this fundamental human right. It is time to think big for religious freedom.

The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2022 will convene a Civil Society Congress that will develop ideas to promote religious freedom and innovate solutions for threats faith communities face around the world.

The congress—which will take place June 28 from 2-6 p.m. at Renaissance Washington’s Potomac Ballroom—will provide organizations and religious communities the opportunity to send a delegation to present their proposal in front of their fellow advocates, as well as a listening panel of government representatives. All proposals will be collected and published in a report.

The IRF Summit 2022 is the second annual gathering of international freedom advocates and activists from around the world. It will highlight increasing threats to freedom of religion, conscience and belief, and it will once again offer the IRF community a chance to come together to advance shared goals for extending these fundamental freedoms to people and faith communities across the globe.

The Summit is convened by Brownback and Dr. Katina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. It is supported by more than 40 diverse partners, including the IRF Secretariat, Religious Freedom Institute, Uyghur Human Rights Project, American Hindu Foundation, Open Doors, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Alliance Defending Freedom, among others, and aims to bring greater attention to religious freedom violations and to create a powerful coalition of groups to advance the cause of religious freedom around the world.

It will take place Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, June 30 in Washington, D.C. A full list of speakers is available here.

More information on the International Religious Freedom Summit 2022 is available here.

Registration and accommodations are available here.

International Religious Freedom Summit 2022 is a powerful, broad coalition of religious, human rights and civil society groups that advocate for religious freedom for all people, everywhere at all times.

Samuel Brownback served as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom (2018-21) and is co-chair of IRF Summit 2022.

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett is president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and is co-chair of IRF Summit 2022.

Read more news on Religious Freedom and Christian Persecution on Missions Box.